Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-31
AFFAIRS IN CLARK COUNTY.
The Talk of Suffering Greatly Elk
aQgerated

dRRerdlSO.
THE following letter is from Slbstan-
tial and well informed citizen of Clark
county, and deals with a matter which has
exercised our people.-ED. EAGLE.l
To the Editor OF the Eagle.
Being one among the thousands of cit
liens of Southwestern Kansas, and a
freebooter in this. one of the most indie
pendent and prosperous counties in this
great commonwealth, l feel it my duty
to the citizens of Clark county and TO
the balance of those concerned. to lift up
my voice. in the absence of a more pow
erful one, in an effort to right the great
wrong which has been done us. through
the united channels of innocent and
willful Misrepresentation of facts, which
has lately been given the public through
the columns of the many dailieS whose
circulation reaches into every part of the
Union.
The false report-which deals, per-
chance. irreparable damage to deserv-
indirect result of two things: one, the
greed of gain on the part of so called
valuable citizens of the southeastern
part of this county. who, for the further
ance of their own personal ends. actually
employed man to go into certain local
tiles east of us and solicit aid TO the
Imaginary sufferers from the failure of
crops in this county: the other ground
less report that through the combined
efforts of an awful blizzard and a lack of
fuel. many lives We're lost and untold
suffering endured in this part OF the
state.
We. of Southwestern Kansas, along
with the majority OF people throughout
the United States. are free to acknowledge
an unusually poor return for our laborS
spent during the past season in agricul-
tural pursuits: but thanks TO our rich
fields. ON matchiess prai1es and the in
domitable VIII and energy Of our farm
ers. Clark county. at least. is far from
being dependent or III need of aid from
the outside world.
Although there are those among us
who are ever ready to fly from the faint
est shadow of hardshipS or the least APP
proach of those stern trials which ever
threaten the pioneer settlers of every
land. their number Is small and their
presence undesired. OF this stamp are
those who. only too anxious to be reCog
nized by their moDied but unprincipled
superiOrs. lend their voices in further
ance of a scheme to benefit the few at
the expense of the MANY.
Scarcely had the harvest time rolled
by when from the southeastern rat OF
the COunty-ClmarrOn toV-sshiE was
spread the news that help was needed TO
carry them through the winter. since
Their crops were a failure ana insufficient
for their actual needs. Promptly our
county commissioners investigated the
matter and found that there was little
ground for such a call, and that the
state of affairs was in no wise alarming.
1t was plain to be seen, however, that it
was merely scheme, steered by a GER
tain clique. for the purpose of easily
working their way through another win
ter without having to undergo that hard
work and unpleasant experience which
must otherwise be endured.
However, upon report of our com
missioners the subject was discussed
and it was finally decided to
give those who were at all
in need an opportunity of
helping themselves by working on the
roads of their township and drawing pay
therefor at rates established by law. This
proposition was submitted, but was re-
ceived by so few that it was dropped for
want of support.
Il, 10. h. in,
strumental in making the call for aid,
employed a man t. carry the news east
of them and solicit aid for the purpose
asked It is understood that the scheme
was partially successful, inasmuch as it
was received by some with prompt re-
Spouse, quite lot of provisions, etc, be-
ing accumulated preparatory to ship
ment to the sufferers e.. Be it under
stood. however, that none of these things
have been shipped. nor are they likely to
be, since the would-be benefactor5 ascer-
tanned the fact their generosity was be
ing imposed upon. 1t is scarcely neces-
sary to say that aS regards the last named
cause for the report III question but little
ground existed on which To found it.
At the time mentioned in the public
press a cold wave swept over tins part Of
the state. bringing with it a slight biz
gard which left behind it less than two
inches OF snow on an average. this disap-
pearing almost as soon as It came. This
cold snap caught many of the people
with a limited supply OF fuel, but before
it was well over a consignment Of coal.
sent BY special order of the Santa Re,
which had been unable To forward it
sooner relieved all anxiety on that score.
No lives We're lost from the effects of
the storm that have been reported. save
a few cattle in the northern part of tho
county. these having been consigned 70
the entire fercenesS Of the clements.
Our people are in good condition to
severe winter and are every
dav making additional preparations
more comfort may be enjoyed
bv both man and beast than ever before
since the county was first settled.
The :. +. & p. railroad has resumed
work on its line through the county. and
within the present month VIII make
where Ii Is booked to remain
a wear or two. The end of the iron Is
now less than seven miles from town
and the whistle of the locomotive y
heard from this place. This Will enable
the residents of southern Clark and
Meade counties and The Neutral Strip 10
get fuel feed and provisions at all times
and at reasonable prices. and put beyond (
question the independence Of the people. !
THUS it NAV easily be seen that. in
stead Of beng in destitute circum- /
stances" and at the mercy Of The Gle
ments and the public At large. We are
really living in clover, and rs happy
as a Dig sunfi0wer. CHIEF.
TOUCHING COINCIDENCE.